Right Now

Anthropologists like to talk about primitive cultures that have no words in their vocabulary for the past or the future - they live in the present.

Of course you don't need the future or past tense to think about the future or past. A tribal leader could properly say "There is little rain, pack up the tents, we are moving to the river."

That sentence is based on memories of the past - and looking forward to better prospects at the river.

Our language may be a bit too complex. It is easy to mentally dwell in the past wishing it was different, or in the future wishing for change. Perhaps we are overdeveloped and the supposed primitive correct.

It may be trite, but reality is in the present, what we do now will determine the future.


Lord God,

You are the I Am That I Am, the God of our present.

We do not ask what is next lord, we come to you and ask -- What now?

We have your promises, and know that you will keep your word. Help us to make our decisions when they make a difference - in the present.

Lord please speak with us and direct us.

What now? ---

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The Love Of God

Love is not weakness.

God has done all that needs to be done to free you. It is now up to you to leave your folly and become wise.

Hell is prepared as a punishment for Satan, not for you. To miss Heaven you have to ignore what Christ is offering and continue to actively avoid the truth.

I saw a fine list of Libertarian quotes the other day. Many Libertarians believe in honest rational intellectualness, many are also atheist since they can't prove God. What was funny is that in this list of quotes were several lifted directly from scripture - and the author was listed as anonymous. They so wanted to avoid association with scripture that these dedicated truth seekers hid from reality - and lied to themselves. I'm reasonably sure if this is pointed out they will remove the quotes rather than acknowledge their origin.

God is mercy and love, but he is also the author of free choice. You can choose to seek God and discover his love and your joy - or you can choose whatever else you wish. There are some awfully attractive traps out there.

It is your will that counts in your life - if it was just God's will it would already be determined.

I know God is real because I know God.

You to can choose to avoid him and disdainfully create fine sounding excuses - or you can meet God tonight.

You too can know God is real because you know God.


Lord Jesus,

We thank you for your sacrifice that bought us acceptance into the righteous presence of God.

You have made it possible to be adopted into the family of God.

Jesus we seek you right now.

You know our needs, you know our weaknesses, and you are the answer to all of them.

We ask that you will help us to see from an eternal perspective.

We turn from our pointless and diminishing pleasures to enter into the ever increasing joy of a relationship with you.


Jesus -- please show yourself as real to me -- tonight.


In your holy name lord Jesus we ask you to instruct us in your truth. ---

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It Is Not The Intensity - But The Reality Of Our Belief

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And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. - I Kings 19:12


Lord God,

Thank you that we can approach you regardless of our current feelings.

We do not have to be on an emotional high, or in the depths of depression to benefit from time with you.

We come to you now to seek your knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence on the living of our lives.

Speak with us lord, direct us.

We will listen in that quiet spiritual part of ourselves that by immersion in your word knows your voice. ---

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Enter In

If you feel far from God - know that he has not moved.

Lord God - we love you.

You loved us first, and with your wisdom you have led us to discover your love.

God we blow it so often, thank you that we have been forgiven - and that we will be forgiven as we try and fail in the future.

We are headed in the direction that you have chosen for our lives . Help us to continue on the path that you blazed for each of us as individuals.

We accept your forgiveness lord, and we move forward guided by your light.

We now leave behind this worlds striving for temporary pleasures and rewards and we enter into the growing joy you have promised.

Keep us on the narrow way.

In Jesus name we come to talk with you now ---

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Missionaries Needed For Macou

Lord,

Thank you for the opportunities you have given us.

Thank you also that by prayer we are able to change our world.

Even now we seek you lord for Macou.

God we know there is need in Macou and we know there are laborers - but more laborers are needed.

God -- Macou is a gateway to China's heart, we ask that you start a revival in Macou that will challenge and change a nation.

We pray this in Jesus name - asking that you will direct those in the effort that you have already chosen.

We are available lord - talk with us now ---

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We Don't Know As Much As We Think We Do

especially me.

There is an old saying - It is not what we don't know that is dangerous, it is what we think we know and we are wrong that can hurt us.

It is easy for us to proclaim things as being the way we have learned them to be. What we need to do is slow down, study, and find out what is true.


Lord God,

Thank you for your love.

Thank you that you take us as we are, unimproved.

With love you help us to reshape our lives to conform with the truth. We reflect your presence - we love you too.

In your time, in your way, and in the order that you know is to our benefit you reshape what we surrender to you.

You are love.

You are wiser than us.

You are smarter than us.

We surrender ourselves to your leadership.

We love you lord.

Take us by the hand and guide us, we come now to spend time with you ---

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Some Time With Jesus

Lord God,

Thank you that we can come to you and talk with you.

At times we don't even know what to say.

We may pray with just an inner groaning of the spirit - knowing that you are aware of our needs before we are.

As in all conversation we allow time to listen.

We have read your scripture - we know your voice.

We know you will not contradict yourself lord, we open ourselves to hear your voice.

Talk to us lord, we are here to listen ---


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God, You Are Who You Say You Are

And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. - Matthew 13:57-58 (KJV)

We can limit God in our own lives by pride based in the ignorance we call knowledge.

We are created in God's image - he is beyond our understanding. Just as the reflection in the mirror does not understand the life and depth of the one reflected, so is our comprehension also limited.

God is much smarter than we are, God is much wiser than we are, and the good news is -- God loves us.

Our wisest course is to seek God's counsel - and then follow it.



Father God,

Thank you for loving us.

We know that you are, we know you are love, we know that you act based on that love.

Help us to see with a spiritual vision the route you have prepared for us.

We acknowledge our limitations lord, we are like chickens scratching the surface of the barnyard, thinking ourselves knowledgeable that we found some feed, when an entire universe of knowledge is beyond us.

Teach us what we need to know, give us this day our daily bread.

In Jesus Christ's name, within the access granted by his shed blood, we come to seek your counsel now ---

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